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West Virginia Democrats Demand Federal Disaster Assistance Now
Charleston, WV - On July 14, 2025 marks one month since the devastating floods that ravaged Ohio and Marion counties, claiming lives, displacing families, and destroying homes and infrastructure across northern West Virginia. On this somber anniversary, the West Virginia Democratic Party is demanding answers from President Trump and his administration about the unconscionable delay in approving a federal disaster declaration that would unlock critical FEMA resources to help residents recover.
Despite the urgent needs on the ground, President Trump has remained silent-ignoring West Virginia families who are hurting and desperate for help. “It’s been a month since our neighbors lost their homes, their livelihoods-and in some cases, their loved ones,” said WV Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin. “And yet, President Trump still hasn’t signed the disaster declaration. He’s abandoned West Virginia families in their time of greatest need. This delay isn’t just bureaucratic-it’s cruel.”
While Trump has stalled on West Virginia’s request, his administration moved swiftly to approve a federal disaster declaration for recent flooding in Texas. “We absolutely support the people of Texas getting the help they need. But West Virginians deserve that same help-and they deserve it now,” said Democratic Party Vice-Chair Teresa Toriseva. “It shouldn’t matter what state you live in or what party your governor belongs to. FEMA is not a political weapon. It’s a promise to the American people that we will show up when disaster strikes.”
This is not the first time Trump has played politics with disaster relief. He threatened to withhold FEMA assistance from California during the 2018 and 2020 wildfire crises, citing the state’s political leadership. And in 2024, he falsely accused President Biden of failing to help North Carolina after severe flooding devastated the Asheville region-even though Biden swiftly approved all aid requested by that state’s governor.
“President Trump was quick to criticize President Biden for imagined delays in helping a Republican-led state-but now he’s the one sitting on a request from his own political ally, Governor Morrisey,” Pushkin added. “This isn’t just hypocrisy-it’s failure of leadership.”
The West Virginia Democratic Party is calling on President Trump to immediately approve the major disaster declaration requested by Governor Morrisey on June 20, so that families in Ohio and Marion counties can begin rebuilding their lives with access to federal Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation resources.
“Every day that goes by without action is another day families do without, another day small businesses can’t reopen, another day our communities are left behind,” Toriseva said. “Enough delay. Enough silence. Do your job, Mr. President.”